FERPA

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Applies to those institutions that regularly receive funding from the Department of Education

Guarantees students three primary rights:

Right to inspect and review education records

Right to seek to amend education records

Right to have some control over the disclosure of information from education records

Guarantees these right to individuals who have reached the age of 18 or who attend a postsecondary institution

Allows an institution to release information about a student without written consent:

Name

Curriculum

Dates of attendance

Degrees Awarded

Unless excepted by FERPA, a signed, writtenconsent is required for the release of non-directory information from education records.

Students can sign a release of information form yearly that allows faculty and staff to talk with designated individuals about their education records. These forms are maintained in the Registrar's Office.

An education record is information that is shared, recorded and maintained in any way

handwritten report or file

printed documents

computer images or data

e-mail

video or film

photographs

audio tape

microfilm or microfiche

Gives students the right to restrict some or all of the information from their education records

Allows release of information without prior written consent under the following conditions:

to the student

to school officials

to schools in which the student seeks or intends to enroll

to Federal, state and local authorities involved in the audit or evaluation of compliance with education programs

to comply with a judicial order or subpoena

in connection with financial aid

to organizations conducting studies for or on behalf of educational institutions

to accrediting organizations

to the parents of a dependent student (special guidelines apply)

when a health or safety emergency is apparent

when directory information is being released

to an alleged victim of a crime of violence, the results of a disciplinary hearing may be disclosed.

Notes:

A good rule of thumb: FERPA is to education as HIPPA is to medical/health information.